Have You Had These Procedures, What Are They Like?

I have had a bone scan. Its like a full body X-ray. You don't even get undressed. You just lay on the table. A friend had a sling and is great. Didn't complain about anything.

Hi L., I am 56 (no children at home either)so I guess I can relate to some of what you are going through. I can't help you with the bladder sling but I have had the "bone density" scan done. It's a piece of cake! Doesn't hurt which is a plus in my book. All they do is take some X-rays of your bones to check and see if you are losing bone density. The doctor may have suggested taking calsium supplements. If he did there are some out there that are almost like eating candy. Chocolate is just one of the flavors. Of course there are always Tums you can take which is cheaper. Good luck and if I can help with any thing else just let me kmow. M.

For mild incontinence I would try all other options before surgery. Talk to your OB/GYN about pelvic floor rehabilitation.

S. V
www.trueharmonywellness.com
www.trueharmony.typepad.com

I have bladder leakage when I sneeze, cough, or have a full bladder. And I'm only 32! I wouldn't have major surgery for it! I hope your doctor isn't surgery happy. But if it's something simple, I guess it's worth a try. Is it something that happened cuz of a hysterectomy? I have to have a hysterectomy next month due to very large fibroid tumors (uterus size of 30 wk pregnancy), and I'm wondering what some of the side affects will be.

L.,

I am a nurse and thought I would answer your questions to the best of my abilities. A bone scan will be done to check for osteoarthritis, bone loss due to advance age easy to do no pain. A bladder sling is a surgical procedure to lift and "tighten" your bladder. After having children and againg the muscle of the baldder weakens. This will help with stress incontience. I had a friend that did this and has had not problems since.
you sound like a young free spirit and I really like that. Enjoy life...

SarahK.

I had the bladder sling procedure done 4 years ago and I LOVE IT!!!! Best thing I ever did for myself. I couldn't laugh, cough, sneeze etc. without wetting myself. I was worried about having to wear diapers....at my age---NO WAY! I had very litttle discomfort from the procedure. I had an overnight stay in the hospital with a cath but they took it out the next morning. I would say it is definitely worth it. I am 56 now and enjoying being able to not have to wear a pad anymore when I play with my grandkids or have a good belly laugh. My doctor is Dr. Eric Huish. His office is near the new Banner Gateway hospital at Higley and the 60. He's GREAT...even if he is my brother. I have refered several people to him and they agree he is wonderful. He did my procedure and I am really glad I did it.
I am an Office Manager at a Pediatric Office in Chandler.
J. F.

I don't think you should have a permanent bladder support surgically installed if the only time you leak urine is during a major cough, especially when you say it "isn't a major problem."

When you research bladder slings on the web, the official descriptions and the comments on discussion groups don't match. A quick perusal of bladder-control discussion groups finds far more problems than success stories. If your bladder leakage is not affecting your quality of life, don't do anything that could give you a problem that DOES affect your quality of life. If your bladder leakage is beginning to adversely affect your quality of life, then take a chance on the surgery.

L.,
My mom had a "bladder sling". I believe it was surgery, but didn't seem to be so bad for her. advancing age! yikes!! I am 45 and do not want to think about advancing anything except for my income!
A. D

Hi L.,
I work for a hospital and we perform Bone Scans. My question to you is why is the physician ordering a bone scan for you? What is the diagnosis?
A bone scan is done in Nuclear Medicine. You will receive and injection (into your vein ) of Methyldiphosphonate which is radiation tagged so they can see the bones. 2.5 hrs later you will return to the Nuc Med department and have a scan done that will take approx. 30 minutes.
I hope this helped you a little bit!
Sharon

I have a bladder sling and have for about 5 years now. I had teh same problems with coughing, sneezing, or jumping up and down. Its a surgery, but minor and it's worth it. Hurt? not really. I am totally happy with mine and would do it again.

B.

I have a bone density scan (known as a DEXA scan) every year, as I have osteopenia - a precursor to osteoporosis. It is a very simply procedure, you don't even have to undress. You simply lie on a table while your hip, spine, wrist or other sections are scanned. It's totally painless. You should be done in under 15 minutes.

From year to year they will match your current scan to your previous one to see if there is any change.

Good luck.

Dear L.,
I had a bone density scan that is different than the other described earlier. The bone density scan I had was a whole body low power X-ray with a DEXA scanner. You may be able to look this up on the web for more information. This was done in my doctor's office in less than 15 minutes. I think 1/8 of the typical X-ray radiation. So little that the attendant did not need to leave the room. I was found to have osteopenia, exercise and supplements help to improve bone density.

On the bladder leakage. My grandmother had this trouble. I'm sure we all get to it. I've had it after babies. But it's stoppable through Kegel exercises unless it's very serious. My granny is now in her 80s and still no bladder trouble as she faithfully exercises. The Kegel exercise is flexing and relaxing the same muscles that you use to start and stop urinating. Sit on the toilet and "practice" until you have enough control that you can do this anywhere/anytime. I sometimes do my Kegel's while making dinner. If you have more how to questions, try doing a search for Kegel exercise.

Good luck with both issues.

I have have had several bone scans. They are painless and you just lay on a table with your clothes on while a little machine goes back and forth above you.

For the bladder problem I take Hydrangea (a herb you can get at any health food store. It helps with frequency of getting up during the night. Sometimes takes about a month to work.

I am retired and 77 years old have been taking Hydrangea for years. Good Luck Lee H

As for the "bladder sling" in most cases it doesn't work. There are simple excercises that can help a great deal. Clenching the "love muscle" for 5 counts 3 or 4 times a day and then gradually work up after a week. This is so simple but it works great.
My GYN told me a woman in her 80s did this as instructed and has no incontinence problems.. Better than useless surgery.

For a bone scan you drink a fluid and then lay on a table and a picture is taken of the fluid in your body. the spot or spots of illness in your body will be a different color. it doesn't hurt of anythng but...you are radioactive for about 3 days afterward! depending on what may be wrong is usually the specialist ordering the scan (oncologist, orthopaedist...) A urologist would be able to assess whether a sling is necessary or not.
For bone denisty, i would ask to be refered to an internist or orthopaedist , and I would make an appointment with a urologist to discuss treatments and options or what to look for.

Explore these possiblities, as they may help you with growing older more gracefully. I feel young at heart, never worried about age, but my body has not cooperated over the years ! A G E, arthritis, bladder ...

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L.

L. I'm a nurse in OB where we do Bladder Slings, it's just like a hammock for your bladder made out of a net. They are very helpful, the most pain after surgery is where they actually pin the sling to your bone. Don't worry they have meds for that and actually that pain will only last for 5-7 days at the most. It will really help, and maybe if you have pain during intercourse it will take some of that away when you have a little urine in your bladder. Okay so I'm a nurse I give to much info sometimes. Hope it helps and if I had the choice I would go through with it.

A bone scan is to check your bone density. He may want to prescribe a medication for you. My friend has had one done every year since her hysterectomy in her late thirties. That friend also has a bladder sling. She has the same issues you have. I will be needing the same procedure soon, I'm sure. Its awful during allergy season!

I'm going to 43 this year and I don't think I look it or feel it but there are things that tell me I"m only fooling myself...like facial hair and leakage. Good Grief. When did this happen? ;)

A bone scan is completely painless. You lay down on a hard table for just a few moments while the machine scans your body from underneath. This is the best and most complete type of scan. There are lesser forms of scan which do just your heel or your wrist but they are not as conclusive. I recommend the much more complete and generalized one as a baseline. It is nothing to be afraid of and is a good thing to do at our age to be informed about osteoporosis or osteopenia which weakens our bones.

I had to have a "bladder sling" done last year. I was 54. I was tired of the leakage when I coughed and sneezed, etc. It was done as an outpatient surgery, I was able to go home that day in a few hours and it has been great. It was called a TVT sling, or transvaginal tape sling. It is the least invasive type of procedure, I think. Anyway, you should look it up on the internet and ask your Dr. about it and find a specialist who does it and at least inquire, rather than a more invasive type of surgery. Some people of course are not candidates but you can ask! Best of luck to you!
N.

Yes I have had a bone scan and there are no problems, you just lie very still and a big machine goes over you and makes sure you have enough calcium and your bones are strong and you arent getting osteoperious...(spelling?)
THe bladder sling sounds interesting, I too have a little problem with the leakage, especially if I sneeze or wait to long to go to the toilet. My Doctor reccomended a pesorie, heard of that? I opted to wait until it got worse, as I didnt want anything inserted up there.

I have had the bone density scan....piece of cake!!! It takes about 20 minutes. No prep involved or anything like that.

The bone scan is painless and simple. I have had two and they are nothing to worry about. M.